SAUGERTIES, N.Y. -- The head of the Saugerties Republican Committee has threatened to pull his support for Republican Legislator Robert Aiello because the veteran lawmakers questioned an appointment by Legislature Chairwoman Terry Bernardo.

In an email to Aiello, R-Saugerties, on Sunday, Saugerties GOP Chairman Joseph Roberti called a Sunday Freeman story in which Aiello was quoted "an outrage."

"I am going to recommend to the Saugerties & Ulster County Republican Committees that you not be endorsed for election next year," Roberti wrote.

In the article, Aiello said he was "disappointed" that, as chairman of the Legislature's Health and Personnel Committee, he was not notified by Bernardo, R-Accord, that she had hired Saugerties resident Frank Reggero as the Legislature's budget analyst. Aiello also questioned whether Reggero was qualified for the $50,000-a-year job.

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Aiello said in the article that he and committee Vice Chairwoman Jeanette Provenzano, D-Kingston, had written a letter to Bernardo, asking that she provide a report detailing "a listing of current positions, name of person in the position, salary, job description, current accruals and work schedule."

"The 2012 adopted county budget included $707,030 to pay legislators and fund a specific staffing plan," the letter stated. "Since January, several personnel changes have been made that have left many legislators and the public concerned how these tax dollars have been spent."

Aiello said Bernardo responded to the request in a letter in which she stated she had been advised by counsel that the request was outside the scope of the committee's jurisdiction.

But Aiello said Bernardo provided the information, according to her letter, in the interest of transparency and because the information the committee leaders requested is public information.

Aiello dismissed Roberti's threat, saying it "isn't the first time he's done this to me."

"He's said much worse things about me before," the lawmaker said.

"All I'm doing is asking a question, and this is what I'm hearing from my town chair," Aiello said. "Isn't that my job?"

Aiello, who has been elected to eight two-year terms on the Legislature, said he is unconcerned about Roberti's threat.

"I'm betting its not going to have serious repercussions," he said, adding there have been other attempts over the years to deny him the GOP line on the ballot.

"I got some phone calls of support, including from Republican Committee people, saying it was refreshing to see someone asking questions," Aiello said.

"I cannot live my life being dictated to," he said, "My responsibility is not to the committee chair. My responsibility is to the people who go into the voting booth."

Roberti declined to comment on what he called "internal party matters."

"This matter will be addressed in the proper Republican forum," he said.